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CHICAGO (December 14, 2018) - Following a week off for final exams, Loyola returns to Gentile Arena Sunday afternoon to face Norfolk State. The Ramblers, who have dropped four of their last five outings, have won 18 of their last 21 nonconference home games and 19 of their last 23 contests overall at Gentile Arena. Loyola entered the week ranked first in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense, allowing just 64.6 points per game. A year ago, the Ramblers ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense, yielding only 62.6 ppg. Dating back to last season, the Ramblers have won each of their last seven contests played on a Sunday.

Loyola – Norfolk State – The Series

Loyola and Norfolk State are meeting for the third straight season in a series that began in November 2016. The Ramblers have prevailed in each of the first two match-ups between the teams, winning each contest by double digits. The Ramblers are 11-1 all-time versus current members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

When the teams met last December, Bruno Skokna provided instant offense off the bench, netting 18 points in only 23 minutes, to spearhead Loyola's 80-52 victory. Loyola shot an unbelievable 71.4 percent (25-for-35) from the field, and 76.9 percent (10-for-13) from three-point range, to coast to the win despite playing without its injured starting backcourt of Clayton Custer and Ben Richardson.

Scouting Norfolk State

The Spartans, who are 0-4 in true road games this season, are coming off an 81-71 loss at Rider Wednesday night. Norfolk State won two of its first three contests, but since then has stumbled in six of its last eight games.

Like Loyola, Norfolk State has struggled with its perimeter shooting, connecting on only 31.9 percent (72-for-226) of its three-point attempts this season.

Redshirt junior guard Nic Thomas leads the Spartans' scoring attack with a team-high 14.6 points per game and he is shooting a team-best 38.9 percent (28-for-72) from three-point land. Derrik Jamerson, who totaled 14 points in last season's meeting with Loyola, is draining 38 percent (19-for-50) of his tries from long distance.

Up Next

Loyola has a quick turnaround and closes out this mini homestand Tuesday night (Dec. 18) when it hosts Benedictine at 7 p.m.